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Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haas discusses America’s efforts in the Middle East and future of military involvement.
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Richard Haass is president of the council of foreign relations.
-- he joins us now undermined Thomas quarter Mario are under great I wound up -- from January 2000 want to.
During the 2003.
He was director of policy planning for the Department of State.
Not a -- also sort of dangerous coordinator for policy.
Producer sure -- of Afghanistan.
-- -- -- Started basically after 9/11 and when the United States -- heavily involved there.
Well initial policy was true obviously oust the Taliban government at the time that had been providing sanctuary -- Qaeda.
Then afterwards I got heavily involved in putting together with the -- and others.
A successor government there.
And then afterwards so my goal was to sort of gradually build up the F steps.
And which is what we we did and fits and starts so be honest with -- we didn't get very far.
-- -- Got a good closer to nation building right the United States wanted to help.
It didn't want to invest saw a whole lot for all the obvious reasons.
And we sort of stayed on that kind of nation building life trajectory I would -- really most of those presidency of George W.
Bush.
And things began to gradually.
-- unravel and it was under mr.
Obama if you were called in his first you're essentially.
That he made the decision.
-- to really -- it's just things up and up from the United States essentially tripled this -- force levels in Afghanistan.
And became somewhat more ambitious -- -- -- -- to accomplish there.
But do you -- now that you realize your advisors -- the audit.
What -- not so sure -- we agree I'm not sure I think the answer what the United States.
Could have and should have done some of the things that could you give these guys -- -- I think.
In many ways so after.
You're going back there after 9/11 when we when we got rid of al-Qaeda.
Largely and they were forced to leave Afghanistan and then when the couple cross the border to Pakistan has been set up shop.
I think in many ways we we we could have and should have declared victory in Afghanistan.
That's -- think I'd give nation building -- they've made some sense that we wanted to get word.
-- and we should not gotten ambitious in the country I left government -- pointed out in 2000.
Three.
-- my real criticism comes over the last couple years -- the United States decided to really.
Try to accomplish an awful lot to do whole hog if you will nation building and Afghanistan.
MIC here and my prediction is that at the end of today we're not gonna have much to show for.
Belong or don't like and evidently shall fourth and -- well unsophisticated people such as me back van.
When -- went into Afghanistan we thought we were going into Afghanistan.
To -- Osama bin Laden Petrobras or where in fact -- -- five remember correctly.
That's what we were told by you guys -- -- have some other grand plan or the planet you're just over for the Schumer recommended.
But it all.
And then when it was clear.
Alone there -- couldn't get a -- Well to hell no worry went on to Pakistan or -- less corrupt than -- -- redundant about ridiculous idiotic war in Iraq which I'm sure -- group now.
And then and not an -- here where film.
-- again.
We've.
We agree that the Iraq War little -- -- be diplomatic are sort of was ill advised the way I put it was a war choice and I thought it was a bit choice.
And I also think what we've come to do and Afghanistan was a war of choice the second better choice I don't think there was -- is that we needed to do the reason the United States.
Decided to do some things and Afghanistan.
Was to essentially prevent the return of the Taliban and the view -- that must be built up a local to some extent.
The Taliban.
Might return I think the idea of investing in them at a modest level it's not a bad idea.
Not to try to make them stronger and it's it's actually become if you will something of the template for what we're doing around the world now and I don't think it's a bad idea.
Which is reduced.
Beating we do some advisor in reducing training of these local forces.
US special forces and drones take care of the counterterrorism role but we avoid heavy -- we avoid putting in tens and tens of thousands of US soldiers.
And going forward I think this will be the policy the United States -- -- we're doing it in places like Yemen and Somalia.
And I think that is the lesson is going to be no more Afghanistan's no more Iraq no law no more these heavy.
Footprints -- we send them again a 100000 shoulders and we try to remake these societies -- resist making.
